CURLING: USA men suffer first loss, women fall to 0-3 at World Juniors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2008 USA men suffer first loss, women drop to 0-3 at 2008 World Juniors (STEVENS POINT, Wis.) - Chris Plys and Team USA suffered their first loss at the 2008 World Junior Championships this morning falling to Sweden's Oskar Eriksson rink, 10-7. Plys (Duluth, Minn.) and teammates Aanders Brorson (Duluth, Minn.), Matthew Perushek (Eveleth, Minn.), Matthew Hamilton (McFarland, Wis.) and Daniel Plys (Duluth, Minn.) are now in a four-way tie for second place with a 2-1 record early in the round robin. The Americans allowed Eriksson's Swedes to score big ends with the last rock advantage throughout the match. The U.S. cut the lead to 7-6 after Plys made a raise double takeout in the seventh end but allowed the Swedes to score another three in the eighth end. The U.S. tried to get a big end set up in the ninth but weren't able to keep stones in the house as the Swedes peeled guards and made takeouts when the U.S. put stones in the scoring rings. After scoring just one point in the ninth end, the Americans conceded the win to the Swedes, who improved to 2-1. The Swiss men, led by Manuel Ruch, are now 3-0 with a 10-4 win over Denmark to sit alone in first place. USA's Nina Spatola (McFarland, Wis.), Becca Hamilton (McFarland, Wis.), Anna Plys (Duluth, Minn.), Jenna Haag (Milton, Wis.) and Karlie Koenig (Waukesha, Wis.) lost to Sweden's Cecilia Ostlund rink this morning, 6-5, to fall to 0-3. The young team put up a good fight against the Swedes taking a 3-2 lead in the fifth end with a steal of two. But Sweden would score three in the sixth to take the lead back for good. The Americans would only score singles with the last-rock advantage in the seventh and ninth ends and were unable to set-up a steal in the 10th. The American women return to the ice to take on Norway (2-1) in the night session (noon CT). The round robin continues through Friday morning. Live scoring and a webcam to watch the action can be linked to via the USA Curling website at www.usacurl.org. Game scores: Women: Sweden 6, USA 5; Japan 9, Norway 3; Russia 7, Canada 4; Denmark 10, Germany 5; Scotland 11, Switzerland 3 Men: Sweden 10, USA 7; Switzerland 10, Denmark 4; Canada 6, Czech Republic 2; China 5, Norway 3; Germany 10, Scotland 3 Standings: Women: Denmark 3-0
Japan 2-1
Norway 2-1
Russia 2-1
Scotland 2-1
Sweden 2-1
Canada 1-2
Germany 1-2
Switzerland 0-3
USA 0-3 Men: Switzerland 3-0
Canada 2-1
Germany 2-1
Sweden 2-1
USA 2-1
China 1-2
Denmark 1-2
Norway 1-2
Scotland 1-2
Czech Republic 0-3 USA Curling is sponsored by AIT Worldwide Logistics, AmerAust Technologies and Nike as well as by AT,T through a joint marketing program with the U.S. Olympic Committee. (30) For more information: Terry Kolesar, USA Curling, terry.kolesar@usacurl.org, 715-344-1199, Ext. 202, or 608-338-9900 (cell).